One of the great all time classics

May 19, 2008

by shinjiblue

Rating:

+3

Family...power...violence...betrayal. When the lines between family loyalties and self-preservation begin to blur, who do you choose? How far will you go and what sacrifices are you willing to make to make it to the top and stay there? This movie has all the makings of a great mafia crime drama but what really makes it one of the best is that the characters are humanized beyond the seedy violence of the world they inhabit. It's the juxtaposition of the small details of their lives against the backdrop of the mafia underworld--the christening of a firstborn son while a mob war is raging and the competition is being eliminated--that makes us realize there's more to these characters than death and violence. Although the first was quite excellent, it was Part II that really helped rank this series as one of my favorites. Learning where the Corleone family came from and how they grew into the premier family in organized crime...maybe I'm just a big fan of the back story but I thought it well-executed and honest without being overly dramatic.The only thing that kept me from giving this series a 5 of 5 was the third installment. Not quite up to the standard of the first two, particularly Sofia Coppola, who has wisely decided to pursue a career behind the camera since her less than spectacular screen debut as the daughter of the Godfather himself.

Wiki

All three of Francis Ford Coppola's classic films detailing the trials and tribulations of the Corleone family and their involvement in the world of organized crime come to DVD in this collection. Each film is given widescreen treatment with commentary from Coppola himself. The fifth disc contains over three hours of exclusive bonus features, including several behind-the-scenes featurettes. See individual film titles for descriptions.